Ohio State Football: Buckeyes Looking for Validation with Victory over Clemson

A bowl ban kept Ohio State from playing on a pivotal postseason stage in 2012. Michigan State and its vaunted defense kept the Buckeyes from playing in the national championship this season.

Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes have won 24 of their last 25 games, but none of those victories came against an opponent ranked in the Top 15. On Friday, in the Discover Orange Bowl, No. 7 Ohio State will have the opportunity to validate its historic run against the No. 12 Clemson Tigers.

The Buckeyes (12-1) are approaching the Orange Bowl as a chance to not only get back to their winning ways, but to also prove that they're the championship-caliber team that winning 24 consecutive games would suggest.

Obviously by validating it in our eyes, it will validate in the eyes of others. The thing we're worried about is just showing our character, showing who we are as people by working hard and working towards a win.

That win will need to come against a team that's perfectly equipped to exploit Ohio State's biggest weakness.

Led by senior quarterback Tajh Boyd, the Tigers boast one of the most dynamic passing attacks in the country. Junior receivers Sammy Watkins and Martavis Bryant, who average 169 receiving yards per game, present matchup nightmares on the perimeter.

That dynamic trio lifted Clemson all year as the Tigers rank 11th in the country with 329.3 passing yards per game.

Tajh Boyd is the leader of an explosive Clemson offense.Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Ohio State, of course, has struggled tremendously defending the pass. The Buckeyes have given up an average of 260 passing yards this season, good for 103rd nationally. Over its last two games against Michigan and Michigan State, Ohio State surrendered more than 750 yards and seven touchdowns through the air.

On top of that, the Buckeyes will be without two of their impact defenders. Sophomore defensive end Noah Spence, who leads the team with eight sacks, was suspended for three games for violating an unspecified "Big Ten Conference rule." Junior cornerback Bradley Roby, Ohio State's best pass defender, is expected to miss the game because of a bruised knee he suffered against Michigan State.

That's a fitting parallel for the Buckeyes as they get ready for Clemson. Can Ohio State shake off the bruises left by Michigan State and earn the validation it's looking for. According to Kyle Rowland of Eleven Warriors, Buckeyes running back Carlos Hyde is confident.

“This is a BCS bowl. This is still a huge game,” Hyde said. “You don’t really need too much motivation. This is still a huge game, just got to get past that last game. I’m sure we are past that."